Van Doren Book 9: Rhodes by Crea Reitan

 

Van Doren Book 9

Every high school has a bully who has gone unpunished.

Walking the halls of my high school after two decades reminds me why I’ve blocked those years from my memory. The walls hold secrets but perhaps none as potent as the woods behind the school where a life ended too soon.

I wasn’t able to make a difference then. But I’m not a frightened kid anymore. Bullies no longer scare me. It’s time to deliver long overdue consequences to those who have never been held accountable for their actions.

With my pack of wolf dogs and this blindingly bright fake boyfriend at my side, nothing can go wrong.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/253672236-rhodes

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

I first read Rhodes story in a Heart2Heart Anthology. I was so happy to revisit his story again, but this time it was longer and few changes. Worth to read again if you already saw it! Rhodes and Bennett and of course their pack of wolves are just the best. For those reading it for the first time. Here is what is going on: When Rhodes needs a date to get him through a weekend at his old private high school for a reunion, he turns to Heart2Heart. That’s where he meets Bennett. Bennett is a total surprise for Rhodes. They just fit together and the fact that Bennett is un-phased by the fact that Rhodes has several very large wolves that he has trained and keeps with him at all time? Even more wow. Bennett adores Rhodes and his wolves and is glad he can be there for Rhodes during a weekend that is clearly hard for him since his high school was not one he liked. And when their weekend is over, well, they’ll have to decide if they are ready to let one another go. If you know the VanDorens, you know what to expect with Rhodes when it’s time to get into a little mischief. And of course, righting some wrongs with some bad people. And while these two may be opposite in some ways, they are plenty a like in others. A great way to expand and give us more of these two! Loved it!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Isle of Kala Book 2: One Breath by Crea Reitan

 

Isle of Kala Book 2

Every note of longing tastes like Cash.

Falling in love with my best friend’s little brother is the biggest mistake I could possibly make. But Cash Ellis has hypnotized me since we were children. Every song I write is a love letter. A plea. Lamenting what can never be. 

As my best friend gets angrier and more unrecognizable with each setting sun, I find that I’m taking solace in Cash’s company. I shouldn’t. It’ll prove my undoing. It’s only a matter of time before my one-time best friend finds out.

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This is a LGBTQIA+ story with content not intended for those under 18 years of age due to graphic scenes and situations.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/253671443-one-breath

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My Review: 4/5 Stars

It is finally Cash and Onyx’s turn! We’ve seen hints of them plenty in this world, but we have yet to see how they got together. I was very excited for this one and it didn’t let me down. Onyx has had feelings for Cash for a long time. Cash is his muse when it comes to his song writing and he just has always cared for him. Probably even loved. But falling in love with his best friend’s brother? Not a good idea. Not when said best friend has changed a lot. Benson is no longer the guy he became friends with. He is toxic and angry and is always taking it out on those around him. Especially Cash. So Onyx has done what he can to protect Cash, even if that means not being with him the way he wants. He also just has a tiny bit of hope that his best friend is still in there. But things are about to change. Onyx finally gives in to his feelings for Cash and turns out, Cash has had some for a while as well. Cash has always liked Onyx but knows that nothing can happen. Not with Benson being the way he is now. Doesn’t stop them from shifting their friendship into more though. But it’s only a matter of time until things change again. But will they be together when it does? Crazy story! We got hints in the last book, but it was nice to get Onyx and Cash’s points of view. To see exactly how they’ve been feeling and going through. They come out of this story so much stronger once they realize just how much they love one another. So glad to see them get the happy ending they deserve! A great story all around!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Desert Elite Hockey Book 2: Power Play Clash by Christie Gordon

 

Desert Elite Hockey Book 2

Sharing a hotel room with the owner’s son is a mistake. Hooking up with him? Worse. Falling for him in secret? Game over.

Alex

As captain of an NHL team, I can’t afford distractions.

Not when the season is starting.

Not when everyone is counting on me.

And definitely not when the distraction is Julian Mercer—our owner’s spoiled, sharp-tongued son, who walks into the rink knowing nothing about hockey and somehow gets under my skin anyway.

He’s reckless, infuriating, too pretty for his own good… and impossible to stay away from.

He’s supposed to be off-limits.

Instead, he’s in my bed.

What starts as tension turns into late nights, stolen touches, and something I can’t shut off.

But I’m not out, and if his father finds out, I could lose everything I’ve worked for.

Including him.

Julian

I took this job to prove I’m more than Grant Mercer’s son.

I didn’t come here to embarrass myself in front of the team captain, or end up craving every heated glance, every secret touch, every stolen night with him.

He’s controlled, guarded, and impossible to read.

Until we’re alone.

Because behind closed doors, he gives me everything, except a future.

And the longer we stay in the shadows, the more I realize…

If Alex makes me choose between walking away and fighting for him, I won’t go down without a clash.

Power Play Clash is book 2 in the Desert Elite Hockey series. It features a closeted captain, the owner’s son, secret hookups, forced proximity, emotional tension, and a high-stakes MM romance where one choice could cost them everything.

Buy now and fall for the men who refuse to play it safe.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/251403811-power-play-clash

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My Review: 4/5 Stars

Alex has done what he can to bury his sexuality. His team may open considering the amount of them are in relationships with men, but for Alex it isn’t just his team he is worried about. It’s his family. But he also has the biggest distraction when it comes to his hockey career. He can worry about love and relationships later. That is, until he meets Julian Mercer. The GM’s son. He knows he is in trouble when he first meets Julian. But he is even more in trouble when he learns that Julian will be working with the team. Though, from what he can tell, Julian doesn’t have any hockey knowledge. And it soon becomes Alex’s responsibility to help him out when he can. Being near the guy that he can’t stop thinking bout though is its own challenge. Julian is clueless when it comes to hockey. But he is determined to make his dad proud and show he can learn. And he is even more determined to show Alex he has what it takes. Julian thought he closed his heart off long ago, so why does being around Alex feel so different? Their brains tell them they can’t be together, but try telling their hearts. A really enjoyed getting to know Alex and Julian. It was sweet to watch them go from sort of enemies to more as they got to know one another. They were exactly what the other needed. It was also nice to see some familiar faces as well! These guys always have one another’s backs and they proved it with Alex and Julian. Fun story all around, looking forward to the next one.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Shark Heart by Emily Habeck

 

For Lewis and Wren, their first year of marriage is also their last. A few weeks after their wedding, Lewis receives a rare diagnosis. He will retain most of his consciousness, memories, and intellect, but his physical body will transform into that of a great white shark. As Lewis develops the features and impulses of one of the most predatory creatures in the ocean, his complicated artist's heart struggles to make peace with his unfulfilled dreams.

At first, Wren internally resists her husband's fate. Is there a way for them to be together after Lewis fully transforms? Then, a glimpse of Lewis's developing carnivorous nature activates long-repressed memories for Wren, whose story vacillates between her childhood living on a houseboat in Oklahoma, her time with a college ex-girlfriend, and her unusual friendship with a woman pregnant with twin birds. Woven throughout this daring novel is the story of Wren's mother, Angela, who becomes pregnant with Wren at fifteen in an abusive relationship amidst her parents' crumbling marriage. In the present, all of Wren's grief eventually collides, and she meets her fears with surrender, choosing to love fully, now.

An emotional exploration of motherhood, marriage, transformation, and letting go, Shark Heart is an unforgettable love story about mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, animals and people--all while examining what it truly means to be human.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62919375-shark-heart

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My Review: 3/5 Stars

First, the story behind me picking up this book. Pretty cover. Flips to the back, the most absurd back cover copy. Immediately shares with my new book group. Everyone is in to read it LOL. This is just as strange and unexpected as you can imagine. The pacing is quick and told through different types of styles, we find the story centered around Wren and Lewis. Newlyweds who discover shortly after that Lewis has a rare diagnosis. He is turning into a great white shark. The world is quite familiar with people turning into different animals, so the while shocking to the reader, it is only shocking to our characters when they unfortunately find out bout this mutation. Follow them as they try to figure out what to do and what comes next for their lives together and for when they will be forced apart. An interesting story all around for sure.  

Scoring Chances Book 6: Game Misconduct by Brigham Vaughn

 

Scoring Chances Book 6

The last thing Tanner Clayton needs is to fall in love with his rival ...  He loves playing defense for the Boston Harriers, hooking up with anyone he’d like, and hanging out with the boys.  Settle down? No way!  Especially not with Leif Rasmussen—the son of his assistant coach—who he loves to torment during games.  But the more time Tanner and Leif spend together at skills camps and tournaments, the harder the sparks fly on and off the ice.  As the top line center of the New York Rockets, Leif is desperate to live up to his superstar father’s legacy and hold the team together while his captain is out with a long-term injury.  Tanner is nothing but a distraction … and everything Leif refuses to admit he wants.  When the Harriers and the Rockets go head-to-head in the playoffs, there’s more than just the Cup on the line … There’s a chance at love.  TRIGGER/CONTENT WARNING: Realistic depictions of hockey player injuries, mild homophobia from secondary characters, and a side character threatening self-harm.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/250719357-game-misconduct

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

It’s Tanner and Leif’s turn! I’ve been looking forward to these two. They definitely give those enemies-to-lovers vibes. Tanner and Leif have known one another for ten years. And in those years, they’ve become rivals on the ice. Off the ice? Well, Tanner is determined to be friends and lately, more than that. The first time they hooked up was unforgettable and Tanner wants a repeat. And getting Leif to admit he wants is too is half the fun. Tanner drives Leif crazy and yet he always finds himself being pulled back to him. Neither want a real relationship. No chance, no way. But when they find themselves entering a more solid agreement about their hook ups, then talking more often than not… well, slowly things might be changing between them. Admitting it or even noticing it? Takes them a bit, but all bets are off the table when they realize just exactly how much they mean to one another. But how can they be anything on opposite teams? I adored these two! Tanner is wild and chaotic and overall sweet. He can get Leif to relax and have fun and destress. And for Leif, he never thinks Tanner is ever truly too much. He may feign annoyance, but he doesn’t ask Leif to be anyone but himself. I really loved watching these fall for one another. Oblivious and all in without in realizing it so. Their dynamic was a lot of fun with their banter. But I loved how much depth they both have and the things they deal with it. Just another great story in this series! And I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next in this hockey world!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Hockey Bros Book 1: Ethan by Beth Bolden

 

Hockey Bros Book 1

There’s nothing Ethan Barnes has wanted more than to play hockey with his brothers. Avery, Charlie and Ethan have been dreaming about uniting the Barnes brothers on one team since they were barely old enough to hold a hockey stick.

Starting his rookie season on the New York Bandits, Ethan’s finally going to get the chance to play with his brother Charlie. But while Charlie’s great—a fantastic roommate, a better teammate, and a damn good forward—it turns out the guy Ethan’s really interested in doesn’t have a last name of Barnes.

Hank Tucker’s been working his ass off for two years to make the Bandits opening roster as one of their starting defensemen. What he needs is determination, hard work and focus.

What he doesn’t need is a rookie forward with a famous last name, who, since the first time they met at development camp last year, has permanently moved into his thoughts with his rumpled curls and magnetic smiles and killer body. No matter how grumpy Hank is or how determined he is to shake him, Ethan’s sunshine ends up buried deep under Hank’s skin.

Hank’s always been sure he was straight. But Ethan tempts him and entices him and ultimately, makes himself so irresistible Hank’s got no shot at holding back.

Especially when it turns out that Ethan’s not just been working hard to make a spot on the Bandits’ roster but in Hank’s bed, too.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/239774258-ethan

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

What a great start to this new series! Following three hockey brothers, Avery, Charlie, and Ethan, this first book of the series kicks off with the youngest Barnes brother: Ethan. Ethan may be the baby of their hockey family, but he is a great hockey player like his older siblings. And what better way to start his career off than by playing with Charlie’s team? The hope is one day all of them will play together, so starting off with one brother is pretty great. Scary but great. But even more scary? Meeting Hank Tucker. Because the moment Ethan meets Hank, he knows he is in trouble. Their connection is instant and natural and both come to realize that it’s the first time they have feelings for a guy. And they are more than okay with it. When they first meet, they find themselves keeping in touch even when they are on opposite ends of the coast. Ethan has another year at Portland U before they are ready to pull him up and Hank is spending another year at AHL. But it’s a year of getting to know one another and deciding can they be something? And even when they reunite, will they still be on the same team? Both hope so! Hank just needs to prove once and for all he deserves a spot on the roster. Absolutely loved this book! Such a great start to the series. I loved getting to know Ethan and Hank and watching them fall hard for one another. I loved their dynamic and how natural they fit together. They were just a great pair. And we got to see a lot of Avery and Charlie as well. I can’t wait for both their books. Especially Charlie after seeing him in this book and his best friend. It’s definitely gonna be a good one!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Murder Hearts Book 1: Hunt Me by EM Lindsey & Cora Rose

 

Murder Hearts Book 1

Doing Deaf drag isn’t supposed to come with threats to my life, damn it. I’ve had a stalker before, and apparently—even after involving my friend from the FBI—he’s decided to come back and make my life hell.

But this time, however, a slightly terrifying stranger shows up to play hero.

He knocked my stalker on his ass and left me with blood smears on my jaw and a kiss on my lips so devastating, it threatened to rearrange my whole life. And then he disappeared into the shadows.

But just when I think I’ll never see him again, I find him haunting my steps everywhere I turn.

It’s not long before I realize hunting me might be his love language, and god help me, I think I’m into it. Especially when each time he catches me, he leaves me breathless and wanting more.

My stalker is still around, but being with Archie is worth whatever the unwelcome blast from my past wants to throw at me.

After all, having a boyfriend with a thing for knives, coffins, and funeral flowers is a great way to protect myself, and if his obsession and love for me isn’t enough to take my stalker down, my determination to get my happily ever after will.

Hunt Me is the first book in the morally grey rom-com series Murder Hearts. It’s a spicy, MM stalker-to-lover romance with forced proximity, coffins as a special interest, an Autistic MC, a Deaf Drag Queen who doesn’t have time for anyone’s BS, stalking as a love language, a set of lovable murder brothers, an unhinged cat café, and a steamy, swoony, happily ever after.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/252495943-hunt-me

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

Denver isn’t a stranger to having a stalker. But that doesn’t mean he is happy that it is happening all over again. The feeling of someone following him is getting worse. And when he finally attacks…well lucky for Denver there is someone there to stop him. And while his new stalker escapes, Denver is stuck on the man who saved him. The man with gentle hands who then disappeared. Though not for long. Denver finds his hero and it may be the best thing that has ever happened to him. While Archie may appear scary, Denver only ever feels safe with him. Archie is protective and just as obsessed with Denver as Denver is with him. And Archie won’t rest until Denver’s stalker is caught. I loved these two! We got a peek at them before in another series and I’m so happy to see we are getting more books in this world. Archie and his two brothers are a mystery and a bit scary to those who don’t know them. They’ve got their secrets and pasts, but Denver knows that these men will protect him and anyone they care about by any means necessary. I really enjoyed getting to know Denver and Archie and watch them fall hard for one another. They were both super interesting characters who I absolutely adored! And we’ve met some new characters and I’m so excited for future books in this series. This was a great one to start it off!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.